Utah lawmakers propose limits on classroom technology

Photo: Photo by Jose Gil

The proposals are designed to curb screen time for younger students

SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Utah lawmakers, with backing from Gov. Spencer Cox, unveiled a two-bill package Tuesday aimed at sharply reducing the use of educational technology in K-12 classrooms, especially in the early grades, as the state pushes a broader “back to basics” approach to learning. The Deseret News reported that the proposals are designed to curb screen time for younger students and to set new safety standards for school software.

One measure, the Software Accountability for Education (SAFE) Act, would create statewide requirements that instructional software vendors must meet before their products can be used in classrooms. Rep. Doug Fiefia, R-Herriman, who is sponsoring the bill with Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore, R-Draper, said the goal is to ensure “our digital classrooms are as secure as our physical ones,” according to the Deseret News.

A second proposal, the Balance Act, would set statewide limits on classroom screen time that are most restrictive in kindergarten through third grade, then gradually increase technology exposure as students get older. The bill would also direct schools to eliminate “non-essential” screen time and to develop rules governing the use of artificial intelligence, the Deseret News reported. The measure is sponsored by Rep. Ariel Defay, R-Kaysville, and Senate Majority Whip Chris Wilson, R-Logan.

Republican officials promoting the package cited research and parent concerns about device-heavy classrooms. The Deseret News reported that the international PISA survey found that about two-thirds of students report being distracted by digital devices, and those students scored 15 percentage points lower in math, on average, than peers who did not report distractions.

The bills were drafted with the Child First Policy Center, a Utah-based nonprofit launched in 2025 to advocate for child-protection policies, the Deseret News reported. Supporters framed the effort as an extension of Utah’s recent tech-focused legislation, including restrictions on social media access for minors.